Detent for window sashes



April 25, 1933..

J. F. HARDER DETENT FOR WINDOW SASHES Filed May l, 1931 Summer EJ.F.Harder M764 Gttorncg Patented Apr. 25, 1933 UNrr STATES JOHN F.HARDER, F OMAHA, NEBRASKA DETENT FOR WINDOW SASHES Application filed May1,1931. Serial No. 534,393.

lo vide an improved window fastening device composed of but few parts,which are novell in design and in which the manufacture and installationof the device will be economical and provide for the elimination of theconventional sash catches now employed.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved windowsecuring device by use of which both the upper and lower sashes of awindow may be adjusted with respect to each other and locked togethersimultaneously in a selected open or closed position as desired. y Y

A Astill further object of this invention is to provide an improvedwindow fastening device in which an improved form of catch is presentedand carried by one of the sashes in a manner whereby the same may becaused to co-operate with a rack carried by the opposite sash at desiredtimes, or the same may be secured in a disengaged or open position whenso desired.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed .description wherein the invention will be more fullypointed out.

In the drawing wherein like numerals of reference refer to like orcorresponding numerals throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a vertical section taken through a window casing and thesashes thereof with the new device applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary transverse section taken through one side ofthe same.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary face view of the sashes, showing the inventionapplied thereto.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the catch means employed, showing thetongue of the same in a released position, and

Figure 5 is a side elevation thereof, partly in section.

Referring now to the numerals Vof reference upon the drawing for a moreparticular description, 10 designates a window frame having the partingstrip 11, the inside stop 12 and the outside stop 13. The upper sash isshown as having a bottom rail 15 and a side rail 16. The lower sash isillustrated as having a top rail 17 and a side rail 18. The glass isindicated at 19. r

In accordance with the present invention, an elongated strip of sheetmetal 20is employed to serve as a rack. This metal strip or rack 2O iscorrugated transversely as 65 shown in Figure 1, thereby formingalternate concave and convex portions 21 and 22 respectively. The strip20 may be of any suitable length desired, and of desired ornamentalappearance as it is exposed to the interiorof the room. This strip 2O issecured to theV side rail 16 of the upper sash in any suitable manner,such as by the use of nails,- screws, or other keepers 23. .It will beunderstood that the Vmetal strip 2O extends 75 along the side rail 16,that is vertically or in alinement therewith, and that it does notpreferably projectV over the glass 19 as bestV shown in Figure 3.

Co-operatingwith the metal rack bar or strip 2O is a catch having a basemember 24 on the lower sash whereby the two sashes may bel lockedtogether. The base member or portion 24 of this catch unit is preferablyseated upon the upper edge of the top rail 17 of the lower sash, and isvsecured thereto as by the use of screws 25 inserted through suitable.apertures 26 formed through said base member 24 for this purpose.

The base member 24 is provided with spaced apart eyes or bearings 27which may comprise extensions of the base plate 24 curled upwardly insubstantially cylindrical form from the outer edge of the plate 24. Thebearings 27 are adapted to receive a pivot pin 28,'the ends of which areflattened or upset to prevent axial movement of the pin 28 and itsdisplacement from the catch member. The catch or detent is indicated at29 and it is curved or bent outwardly and is beveled at its outer endfor entrance into the groove or depression 21 of the rack 2O and toclear the convex portion or ridge 22. The detent 29 is carried upon asubstantially vertically disposed plate portion 2O which has eyes ortongues 41 rolled over and engaging about the pin 28, and having apivotal bearing thereon. An expansible coil spring 30 is mounted on theintermediate portion of the pin 28. One end of the spring 30 is disposedagainst the base member 24 and the other end of the spring 30 againstone of the eyes 41 of the catch member. The coil spring 30 acts to holdthe detent 29 in yieldable engagement with a notch of the rack bar 20. Afinger piece 31 is provided for gripping the catch or detent 29 and itis preferably struck outwardly from between the eyes 41 of the plate 40.The iinger piece 31 extends at substantially right angles to the plate40. This finger piece 31 is normally disposed slightly above the basemember 24 in substantially horizontal position where it may be depressedtoward the base member 24 in the act of moving the catch or detent 29out of engagement with the rack bar 20.

The plate 24 further carries a holding lug 42 pivotally mounted at 43and, as best shown in Figures 3 and 5, is provided with an upwardlyextending portion 44 having a recess or slot 45 in one side. A spring 46is secured at one end to the member 44 and at its opposite extremity isattached to a rivet 47, or the like, for normally urging the lug 42 toswing in one direction. The pivot 43 is oset to one side of thelongitudinal center of the plate 24 so as to bring the slot intoregister with and to receive the finger piece 31. The spring 46 urgesthe lug 42 toward the finger piece.

In the operation of the device, assuming that a person desires toprovide ventilation within the building, dwelling or sleeping quarters,it is an easy operation to first depress the finger piece 31 and movethe detent 29 from the full line position shown in full lines in Figure1 into position out of engagement with the rack 20, shown in dottedlines in the same figure, and at the same time to swing the lug 42laterally and then free it to engage the finger piece 31 in the slot 45of the lug 42 for retaining the detent 29 free from engagement with therack 20. The upper and lower sashes may now be moved to the desiredpositions for purposes of ventilation or the like.

To accomplish the foregoing the operator will place his finger or handupon the finger piece 31 and press the same downwardly and then causethe locking member 42 to engage the finger piece 31 as best shown inFigures 1 and 5. The detent 29 is thus held from the strip or rack bar2O until the lug 42 is moved laterally to the dotted line position ofFigure 4 when the finger 31 is released and the spring 30 causes thedetent 29 to engage the rack or strip 2O for selectively locking orlatching the sash in a fixed open or closed position. The onlypermissible movements of the sashes in relation to one another are toclose the sashes if they were opened. The configuration of the detentmeans 29, and action of the spring 30 retains the detent in engagementwith the concave portions 21 of the strip 20 at all times whereby thelower sash is not permitted to change its location with respect to theupper sash except only in a manner whereby the opening 50 is madesmaller.

It will be obvious that should an unauthorized person or burglar attemptto gain entrance through the window-opening that he cannot enlarge theopening without breaking theJ window sash and create an alarming noise.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a windowfastening device constructed in accordance with my invention isparticularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience andfacility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will alsobe obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change andmodification without departing from the principles and spirit thereofand for this reason I do not wish it to be understood as limiting myselfto the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts hereinshown in carrying out my invention in practice, except as hereinclaimed.

What is claimed is:

A window fastening device comprising, a corrugated strip adapted to beattached vertically upon a window sash, a base plate forI attachment toan opposite sash, a detent pivotally mounted on the base plate andhaving its upper end curved and beveled for engagement with thecorrugated strip to interlock the sashes against relative overlappingmovement, a spring carried by the base plate and engaging the detent tonormally urge the latter against the corrugated strip, said detenthaving an outstanding finger piece lying normally in spaced relationabove the base plate and adapted to be depressed for manually releasingthe detent from the strip, and a latterly movable holding lug mounted onthe base plate in line with the finger piece and biased into a positionin engagement with the finger piece, said lug having an undercut slot inone side for receiving the finger piece by edgewise movement of the lugfor holding the finger piece downwardly.

In testimony whereof, I have aflixed my signature.

JOHN F. HARDER.

